U23 Olympic Soccer Qualifiers

[Ozy_Flame]

Canada's greatest moment was winning the Gold Cup against Mexico in 2000. I remember that as a teenager. They beat Mexico, Trinidad/Tobago and Colombia to take it all.

BTW, I remember South Korea being in there too . . . WTF?

[sadora]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Canada's greatest moment was winning the Gold Cup against Mexico in 2000. I remember that as a teenager. They beat Mexico, Trinidad/Tobago and Colombia to take it all.

BTW, I remember South Korea being in there too . . . WTF?

The CONCACAF will invite teams into the tournament, for the invited team's international play exposure (South Korea getting ready for the 2002 World Cup in this case) but also to round out the total number of teams involved to 10.

[GirlySports]

I remember Canada knocked out Korea via coin flip!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I remember Canada knocked out Korea via coin flip!

Filthy Koreans had it coming.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Too bad... that last minute goal against Cuba really burnt them, Mexico's team is pretty amazing, I think Canada is going to get beat easily.

That said Canada will for sure stick everyone behind the ball and counter and if they can frustrate them for 30 or so and get into their heads a little maybe they can hope. This generation needs it's own version of Richard Hastings blazing down the field and blasting one roof against the Mexicans. Little redux for anybody too young to have seen it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOLRnsZAT6w

How the eff is that from 2000? Based on the video quality, hair styles and general ill fitting and baggy as hell uniforms I would have pegged that for 1990-1995.

[Mango]

Craig Forrest. How I love thee.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

How the eff is that from 2000? Based on the video quality, hair styles and general ill fitting and baggy as hell uniforms I would have pegged that for 1990-1995.

I agree. It feels like it was 5-6 years ago, looks like it was 20 years ago, and it was actually 12 years ago!

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I love the homerism of Lenarduzzi in that clip. Any chance to give a little love to Vancouver Whitecap Marty Nash, Duzzi took it. If Craig Forrest made a great save, somehow Marty Nash was involved.

Love the baggy jerseys.

Great moment for Canada. Too bad only family and friend were attendance along with some border jumpers.

[sadora]

El Salvador 0 Honduras 1 at the half. Pretty evenly matched at this point and if El Salvador continues playing the attack the way they did the last part of the first they could come back and make an interesting end to this one.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Canada's greatest moment was winning the Gold Cup against Mexico in 2000. I remember that as a teenager. They beat Mexico, Trinidad/Tobago and Colombia to take it all.

BTW, I remember South Korea being in there too . . . WTF?

I would say Canada playing in the World Cup in Mexico, is the top moment.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by sadora

El Salvador 0 Honduras 1 at the half. Pretty evenly matched at this point and if El Salvador continues playing the attack the way they did the last part of the first they could come back and make an interesting end to this one.

Since then it's been chaos. Honduras scores with 5 minutes left in extra time to take a 3-2 lead.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Canadian keeper shouldn't have hesitated. 1-0 Mexico.

[browna]

Yeah, I would've thought Forrest would've said something about that goaltending indecision. Had he come charging out instead of initially taking two steps back, at very least the Mexican see the goalie coming and had a lot less time to get the shot off.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by troutman

I would say Canada playing in the World Cup in Mexico, is the top moment.

I respectfully disagree. It's certainly an accomplishment, but taking home a cup against tough Latin and South American teams is a major feat and a rare piece of Canadian soccer prestige. The Gold Cup is no pushover by any means.

[browna]

1-1! Great ball, great play on the flank by Davis and then great ball and great header.

Edit: Slack defending and its 2-1 Mexico less than a minute later.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I respectfully disagree. It's certainly an accomplishment, but taking home a cup against tough Latin and South American teams is a major feat and a rare piece of Canadian soccer prestige. The Gold Cup is no pushover by any means.

Its not, but a below average start to the tournament, having to win a coin flip to get to the second stage, and then putting together two great games (and a third in the final vs Columbia) was story book, but is 1/50th the accomplishment of making the World Cup.
Technically, Canada won the "Gold Cup" in 1985, as they won the CONCACAF championship to gain entry to the WC, but obviously the format was different.

[Matty81]

Good on Canada for hanging in there, they look a little threatening going forward too when they manage it, unfortunately their back line doesn't look good enough to win - not what I thought their weakest link would be.

A guy like Piette hanging in there and actually looking decent at 17 against that Mexican lineup is damned impressive.

Hopefully Phil Davies and Attakora land on their feet post tournament, I know Attakora will for sure but hopefully Davies isn't another one of the many young players in Canada who slip through the cracks, he's got enough ability that he should at least be on an MLS bench.

[sadora]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Since then it's been chaos. Honduras scores with 5 minutes left in extra time to take a 3-2 lead.

Great finish to this game, I really thought El Salvador could pull the upset. They played well and dominated most of the game. Honduras scored when they had to, good on them for making it in to the olympics. Mexico, as expected with the win.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Good on Canada for hanging in there, they look a little threatening going forward too when they manage it, unfortunately their back line doesn't look good enough to win - not what I thought their weakest link would be.

The big key to that game was that Canada really really needed to hold on to that 1-1 tie for the rest of the half, if not longer, not just a minute.

The longer they could keep the doubt in the Mexican's (and any South American team) mind, who considered themselves a different level above Canada, the better chance you have of those sort of teams imploding.

That goal was shocking to Mexico, and if Canada could've held out at that score longer, I think they had the firepower and counter attack to take advantage of what would be an evering-nervous Mexico team that would be turning against itself as the clock ticked away.

[Ozy_Flame]

Mexicans had trouble containing Hader. Loved watching him in the attacking zone, even if it was few and far between.